[Filed with Secretary of State March 17, 2014.]
ACR 86, Buchanan. American Heart Month.
This measure would recognize the month of February 2014 as American Heart Month in California and recognize February 7, 2014, as Wear Red Day in California.
WHEREAS, Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women, yet often is preventable; and
WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease accounts for one in three deaths nationwide, approximately one woman’s death every minute; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 43 million women in the United States are affected by cardiovascular disease; and
WHEREAS, Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, but often the disease goes undiagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease, yet only one in five American women believe that heart disease is her greatest health threat; and
WHEREAS, Women comprise only 24 percent of participants in all heart-related studies; and
WHEREAS, Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease, and the gap continues to widen; and
WHEREAS, Many women are either unaware of the symptoms of heart disease or may attribute their symptoms to other causes, and women are less likely to call 911 for themselves when experiencing symptoms of a heart attack than if someone else were having a heart attack; and
WHEREAS, The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement has been positively impacting the health of women for 10 years, as a result more than 627,000 women’s lives have been saved, and 330 fewer women are dying each day; and
WHEREAS, In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2014, Go Red for Women is asking all women across America to Go Red by wearing red and speaking red to all of the following: Get Your Numbers, ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol; Own Your Lifestyle, stop smoking, lose weight, exercise, and eat healthy; Realize Your Risk; Educate Your Family, make healthy food choices for you and your family and teach your kids the importance of staying active; Don’t Be Silent, tell every woman you know that heart disease is their No. 1 killer; now therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the month of February 2014 as American Heart Month in California in order to raise awareness of the importance of the ongoing fight against heart disease and stroke; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes February 7, 2014, as Wear Red Day in California, and urges all citizens to show their support for women and the fight against heart disease by commemorating this day by wearing the color red; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature urges public support for Go Red for Women events planned in California during American Heart Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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